Munchkin Disciple Wants to Stop Being Obsessed Over

“Oh my, so many customers, I’m dying here, dying.”

With a pale face, Mr. Jakel collapsed into a seat and lamented.

“Forty… fifty… 72 gold and 60 silver. Another record today.”

Regardless of his complaints, I tossed today’s earnings to Jakel and held out my hand.

“What? 72 gold? You really are a lucky charm! Just added a few menu items and we make 72 gold in a day! Haha!”

With that, Mr. Jakel shook his bushy beard and jumped to his feet.

For good reason. Comparing it to my previous life, we had made the equivalent of 720,000 won in beverage sales in just one day.

“So stop whining and settle the accounts.”

“Right. Settlement, I should settle. Four tenths would be 24 gold and…”

“Stop right there. It’s 29 gold.”

“Nngh…”

Trying to pull a fast one.

When I looked at him with a stern gaze and demanded, Mr. Jakel contemplated for a moment, then handed me 29 gold with a dejected look.

“My goodness. I don’t know why kids these days are so smart.”

“I’m particularly good. But shouldn’t you be thanking me? Your livelihood has improved so much because of me.”

Not just improved—Jakel’s income has increased more than tenfold from before.

The secret lies in the recipes containing my experiences from my previous life.

I promised Mr. Jakel four-tenths of the stand’s profits in exchange for sharing my recipes with him.

“Yes, well, I am always grateful.”

“As you should be. Without me, you would have gone bankrupt long ago.”

“That’s a bit harsh. Honestly, shouldn’t you be grateful to me too? This uncle not only took in an eleven-year-old but is also doing business with him…”

“So when will you give me a bonus? More than 90% of the drinks sold today were made with my recipes.”

“Ahem, finish cleaning up and go home. Come to think of it, today is my daughter’s birthday…”

When I asked, Mr. Jakel rambled incoherently and disappeared like the wind.

Seeing that, a chuckle escaped me.

‘I wonder if he knows that his daughter’s birthday has already happened three times this month.’

Naturally, one of the reasons I’m working is to earn money.

One of the absolute unchanging truths of life.

The more money, the better.

That doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with money; I’m just saving for the future.

In case Daphne, who is taking care of me, leaves my side, or conversely, if I have to leave.

‘Well, there are other more important reasons.’

This beverage stand is located in the center of the village.

That means it’s in a position where people can easily see it. In other words, it also means I can observe people passing by.

‘It’s good to see in advance.’

Many high-ranking nobles frequent the Darmian Barony.

And those high-ranking nobles include many key figures who will appear in the main episode.

‘Above all, it’s the domain where Rose lives.’

Rose Van Darmian.

The first daughter of Baron Darmian.

In the game, she appeared as the main boss of Chapter 1 and was a notorious villainess who instilled great fear in gamers.

For reference, she had two nicknames.

‘Newbie Crusher’ and ‘Penis Scissors.’

“Ugh…”

As the moment when I first retired at her hands came to mind, goosebumps began to rise all over my body.

The screen gradually dimming.
The player’s pants torn to shreds.
The expressionless woman holding two bloody swords crossed like scissors.

And finally, the realistically spurting blood.

This was one of the worst endings that had given male gamers a great trauma.

‘What could have been her story?’

Rose was one of the few fixed bosses in [Harem Academy], which was famous for its high degree of freedom, making her a character who couldn’t be made into a heroine.

Perhaps that’s why.

I was very curious. What kind of experience did she have to go through to hate men so much?

‘I’ll find out as I observe.’

With that thought, I took out a disposable bowl and laid down a layer of vanilla ice cream.

I drizzled chocolate syrup and muffin crunch, then topped it with chocolate ice cream.

Next, I added chopped blueberries, strawberries, and bananas in an appealing arrangement.

While I’m busily making parfait like this…

“Ta-da! I have arrived!”

Just like now, this parfait’s regular customer appears before me.

“Welcome, Lady Rose.”

“Yep!”

“Here it is. A special chocolate parfait just for Lady Rose. I knew you’d come, so I prepared it in advance.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

The cute little girl with red hair and jet-black eyes noteworthy bowed her head and received the parfait.

Grinning broadly, how can she make such a happy expression?

‘How did such a cute child end up changing like that?’

Looking at Rose, who was preciously holding the parfait and licking her lips, I felt complicated emotions.

“Kamel. You have a bite too.”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Oh come on. Aah~.”

In a moment of distraction, sweet chocolate filled my mouth.

Look at this. Not only is she pretty and cute, but she also has a kind heart. Unlike the Rose I knew from the game.

“Hehe, since I fed you, Kamel will grow super super tall!”

“Of course.”

I hope so. In my previous life I regrettably never reached it, but in this life I’m determined to reach 180 cm…

“Hmm, since Kamel is the same age as me, that means you’ll become my knight!”

“Haha, if that’s what Lady Rose wants.”

“Then promise me. Here, pinky!”

Rose, who had been savoring the parfait, held out her pinky finger to me.

Witnessing her destructively cute gesture, I reflexively hooked my finger with hers.

“Hehe.”

Then Rose grinned broadly and buried her face in the parfait again.

‘I do want to protect her.’

To be honest, I initially had the opposite stance.

I planned to find an opportunity and eliminate her beforehand in the name of justice.

This devil’s scissors that would cause frustration to countless men.

Because from a gamer’s perspective, Rose Darmian was a boss with such high difficulty that she was called the ‘Newbie Crusher.’

If by any chance the original protagonist Fran were to be defeated by Rose, this world would inevitably face destruction.

And above all.

‘What can I do about being scared?’

The vague fear that I might also become one of her victims was the greatest.

That was why I had decided to eliminate Rose in advance.

“Have one more bite! Aah!”

But that thought completely changed.

Because the Rose I met directly was not a villainess.

Rather, she was a kind and untainted, pure child who could share her own things without hesitation, just like now.

“Lady Rose.”

“Kamel. Swallow everything before you speak. That’s etiquette.”

“Ah.”

“Pfft.”

She laughs, really innocently and cheerfully. How nice it would have been to have such a little sister.

While melting the ice cream that filled my mouth, I soon asked a question that I was curious about.

“Lady Rose, why did you come alone today? It’s dangerous.”

“Everyone was too busy to play with me. So I came out alone. Hehe.”

“Still, you shouldn’t come out alone. What if Baron Darmian scolds you?”

“Hmph, what can I do if playing with you, who will become my knight, is more fun than staying in the mansion?”

When I reprimanded her, Rose pouted and stomped her feet on the chair.

“If you’re so worried, you can take me back.”

“…I suppose I should.”

“Let’s go, I’ve finished eating.”

Rose, who had already emptied her bowl clean, got up from her seat and naturally tried to hold my hand.

“Lady Rose, you must maintain your dignity.”

I quickly avoided that hand and led the way, continuing to speak.

“Hmph.”

In response, Rose showed a sulky expression but began to follow with tiny steps.

How long had we been walking?

Suddenly curious, I asked Rose.

“Lady Rose, has anything unusual happened to you lately?”

“Nothing? What kind of thing?”

“Or do you ever suddenly have bad thoughts?”

“What kind of bad thoughts?”

Rose asked me back with her finger in her mouth, and I vocalized my curiosity in the most sanitized way possible.

“Like wanting to cut something…”

“No? Hehe. Kamel, are you worried about me right now?”

But contrary to my concerns, Rose only asked back with a mischievous face.

Well, if that’s the case, then that’s good.

“Oh! There is someone I want to cut.”

“Gasp.”

Just as I was feeling relieved, a shocking answer accompanied by a bright smile came, causing my breath to catch.

‘Could it have been innate?’

My mind became complicated.

Because until now, I had thought that Rose appeared as a villainess due to some kind of backstory.

But if it was truly innate.

There was nothing I could do.

If left alone, Rose would definitely become a notorious villainess.

She would surely become a major threat to my future self and the original protagonist.

‘No choice but to nip it in the bud early.’

Conveniently, only Rose and I were walking on this street.

Perhaps this moment was an opportunity given by heaven.

With that thought, just as I was about to envelop my body with mana.

“I want to cut Chief Steward Jeti. Jeti doesn’t like me coming to eat parfait. He doesn’t let me eat pudding to my heart’s content either.”

“Ah…”

Rose muttered with a pouty expression, and I had to let out a deflated sound.

“Sigh, how nice it would have been if Jeti were a fat chief steward who liked desserts.”

Rose lamented with all seriousness.

Seeing her like that, a wave of self-loathing hit me hard.

To have misunderstood such an innocent child.

Perhaps I’ve become too sensitive from being beaten so much lately.

“…?”

That’s when it happened. I suddenly felt an unpleasant energy from behind.

-Clang!

My head reflexively ducked, and something hit the wall with a loud noise that echoed through the alley.

“No, Lord Dunkel. What are you doing right now!”

Turning my gaze, I saw the Darmian family’s chief steward Jeti, with a pale face, restraining a man wrapped in a black robe.

“Hooh.”

However, that man didn’t seem to care about what the chief steward was saying.

He was just looking at me with interest.

‘What is this guy with the terrible physiognomy?’

Hooked nose, narrowly slit eyes, skin full of wrinkles.

It was an impression that clearly indicated he was not a good person.

My head turns. Near where the sound came from, there is a dagger lying on the ground.

If I hadn’t ducked, that dagger would surely have been embedded in the back of my head.

As this realization dawned on me, my face crumpled, and curses rose from within.

“You son of a…”

“W-What are you doing!”

Just as I was about to say something.

A delicate palm covered my lips, and Rose, the owner of that palm, stepped in front of me and shouted.

“H-He’s my knight! W-Which faction are you from?”

Was she very angry? Or scared?

Rose spread her arms in front of me while trembling, yet she still barked at the man.

“Ah, I seem to have made a mistake. Lady Rose. I thought this boy was a thug from the back alleys.”

Nevertheless, the man answered without losing his composure.

“I asked which faction you’re from!”

“…I am a magician named Dunkel, indebted to Count Cayden.”

When Rose shouted again, the man finally bowed his head and introduced himself.

“I-I’ll definitely tell the Count about today’s incident…”

“Would you be able to do that?”

When Rose, still unsatisfied, tried to shout again, Dunkel instead smiled leisurely and asked back.

“W-What?”

“Lady Rose. I received a request from Baron Darmian. And I received an order from Count Cayden. To find the missing young lady.”

At this, Rose began to look flustered.

Dunkel crouched down in front of Rose to meet her gaze and began to move his tongue in earnest.

“Unfortunately, the Darmian barony doesn’t have a magician skilled in tracking magic. I simply came to find the young lady in accordance with the Count’s order.”

“B-But…”

“I hope you understand my position, where the young lady’s safety was the top priority. Honestly, in my eyes, that boy looked like nothing but a kidnapper.”

“…”

“Well, judging by how he avoided my attack, he seems qualified enough to be a knight. Lady Rose, how about this? I’ll apologize to that boy.”

Saying so, Dunkel turned his unsettling gaze towards me.

“Um…”

At his attitude, Rose stammered and grabbed Jeti’s trouser leg.

“Lady Rose, I think that would be best.”

Jeti sighed deeply as if he had no choice and expressed his opinion to Rose.

“Brave little knight, what is thy opinion?”

Dunkel stood up and approached me, asking.

“Wow…”

Faced with such audacity, I let out a sincere exclamation of admiration.

I had tried to ignore Dunkel, a character I hadn’t seen in the game, a ‘nobody.’

But I just couldn’t.

The cruelty of throwing a dagger at a child’s head.
The flamboyant tongue that twists like a snake.
The audacity to treat a noble lady like a child.

And above all.

‘This bastard. Chaos Church.’

The black magical power visible through the Penetrating Eye and the transparent mark engraved on his forehead.

This man was undoubtedly a believer of the Chaos Church.

‘If that’s the case…’

A picture naturally forms in my mind.

Rose, who appeared as a villainess in the game but is now an infinitely pure and cute child.

Count Cayden, who appeared as a villain, and this Chaos Church believer who serves under him.

‘I’m not certain, but…’

These two seem highly likely.

The ones who must have done something to this innocent Rose, turning her into a notorious villainess.

“Ah, too tense to hear? I understand completely. Such opportunities don’t come often to commoners.”

Did he sense my narrowed eyes?

Dunkel shrugged and, staring at me intently, began to move his tongue again.

“Now, I, Dunkel, formally apologize to you. I seek forgiveness for my discourtesy. Could you possibly bestow your generosity upon me?”

On the surface, an extremely courteous attitude.
To be honest, it was even admirable.

How skilled he is at hiding himself and acting.

I thought he might have been better off as an actor.

‘Let’s endure for now.’

My heart wanted to send a fist flying to his hooked nose to give him plastic surgery.

But I had to swallow my anger.

Doing so might make me feel better momentarily, but it was obvious that things would become troublesome afterward.

Rose is the baron’s daughter, and Dunkel is the count’s magician.

If I were to throw a punch, it was clear that Rose and the chief steward would face very difficult situations.

‘I’ll deal with this later.’

So it would be better to wait for the moment when they reveal their true colors rather than acting immediately.

With that thought, I accepted Dunkel’s apology with a bright smile.

“Yes, it’s fine. Oh, but magician.”

Having decided to act magnanimously, I even added a compliment.

“Yes, that’s how it should be…”

“You really know how to run your mouth.”

I meant it sincerely.